Arch insert



Marh 11, 1930. H. LIFSCHUTZ 1,750,479

ARCH INSERT Filed Nov. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l TTORNR j Mild! 11., 1930. LIFSCHUTZ I 1,750,479

ARCH INSERT Filed Nov. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE Yd Patented Mar. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY LIFSCHUTZ, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ELCO SHOE MANUFAC- TURERS, INC., OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ARCH INSERT Application filed November My invention relates to a new and improved shoe.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a shoe having an insert made of leather which will afford substantial support to the arch of the foot.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved turn shoe of this character in which the insert is so shaped and constructed as to permit the ready use of and withdrawal of the last used in making the shoe.

Another object of my invention is to provide a leather insert having an upwardly curved extension which extends up into the instep portion of the shoe.

Other objects of my invention will be set forth in the following description and draw ings which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof, it being understood that the above general statement of the objects of my invention is intended merely to generally explain the same and not to limit it in any manner.

Fig. 1 is a top view of the improved insert.

Fig. 2 is a bottom View thereof.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation thereof.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation thereof.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a shoe showing the side extension of the insert.

Figs. 7-12 are respectively sectional views on the lines 7-7, 88, 9-9, lO-10, 11-11, and 12-12 of Fig. 1.

It has been known for many years to manufacture shoes with arch supports made either of stiff or springy metal and connected in various ways to the structure of the shoe.

It has also been proposed to use rigid metal arch supports, separable from the shoe and inserted therein after the shoe has been manufactured, said rigid metal arch supports being provided with side extensions. It has also been proposed to cover said rigid metal arch supports with leather.

The object of my invention is not so much to provide a shoe having a support for a fallen or broken arch, but to provide a shoe so constructed as to comfortably support a 7, 1927. Serial No. 231,485.

normal or substantially normal arch, which has not yet broken down.

According to my invention the shoe 5 which is preferably a turn shoe is provided with a leather member M which is located directly on top of the sole of the shoe. The said member M is suitably covered with a soft lining member made of suitable soft and bendable leather. I

The main feature of my invention is the peculiar contour of the said member M.

The said leather member M is provided with a curved spring 4 made of any suitable springy metal. The said spring 4 is stamped or made so that it has a normal contour shown in Fig. 3. The purpose of the spring 4 is not to support a fallen arch, because the spring 4 does not have enough stiffness for this purpose. lVhile the spring 4 does provide some reinforcement for the arch portion of the shoe, the main purpose thereof is to cause the member M to assume the longitudinally curved contour shown in Fig. 3. The spring 4 is connected to the leather insert M by means of nails driven through holes 6 in the ends thereof.

As shown in Fig. 1, for example, the member M has a front portion 1 which extends a little in front of the arch portion of the shoe, thus leaving the toe portion of the shoe substantially unobstructed by the member M. The member M also has a heel portion 3 which extends over the entire heel portion of the shoe and is connected to the heel of the shoe S by means of nails or other suitable fastening members.

The member M is also provided with an intermediate side extension 2.

It will be noted that the spring 4 is not centrally located and that on the contrary it is nearer one edge of the member M than the other, the greater distance being between the said spring 4 and that edge of the insert which is provided with the wing or extension 2.

In addition to being longitudinally curved, the member Mis also laterally curved or inclined. Thus, and as clearly shown in Fig. 6 for example, the wing 2 is upwardly curved so as to extend above the inner sole of the shoe and to abut the adjacent part of the soft flexible upper of the shoe.

The member M is made of fairly stiff, but bendable leather and the various portions thereof are of different thickness.

For example, the front portion 1 is fairly thin so that this front portion. can be bent quite easily as it has substantially about the same stiffness as the upper of a shoe. This enables the said front portion to be bent into the shape of the adjacent portion of the shoe.

As shown in Fig. 10 for example, the central portion of the insert M has its greatest thickness along the longitudinal line thereof and the wing or extension 2 is somewhat tapered as well as being upwardly bent.

However, even though the spring 4: is so narrow that it provides little or no lateral reinforcement to the member M, the said member M is made of sufficiently thick leather so that it substantially stii'l'ens the shoe. In particular, since the wing or extension 2 is quite narrow (considering the length thereof) the said wing 2 has sufficient stiffness to support the inner side of the instep of the foot, even though it has no metal reinforcement of any kind. lVhen the insert M is in position, every part thereof save the upwardly extending wing 2 is in firm contact with the inner sole of the shoe, so that the wing 2 acts like a short cantilever to fill out the inner side of the instep portion of the shoe with a substantially stiff and suitably curved leather member.

By reason of the construction above mentioned it is possible to use the last of the shoe in the ordinary manner and Without any difliculty in either introducing or withdrawing the last.

The construction shown makes it possible to build the insert into the turn shoe, instead of merely inserting it into a completed shoe.

It will be noted that the length of the wing 2 is substantiallythe same as the length of the spring 4 and that the said wing 2 is outwardly curved and is spaced from the said spring 4.

I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is clear that numerous changes and omissions could be made without departing from its spirit.

I claim 1- 1. A turn shoe having a bendable leather insert built therein, the front of said insert extending in front of the arch portion of the shoe and being spaced from the toe of the shoe so as to leave the toe portion thereof substantially unobstructed, said insert having a longitudinally curved spring connected to the underside thereof to impart a longitudinally curved contour thereto, said insert having a lateral single wing which is substantially confined to the inside arch portion of the shoe, said wing substantially contacting with the inner side of the arch portion of the upper of the shoe, said wing being confined to the central portion of said insert and projecting laterally from said central portion and being free from metal stiffening means which would prevent it from being built into the shoe.

2. A turn shoe having a bendable leather insert permanently secured to the bottom thereof, the front of said insert extending in front of the arch portion of the shoe and being spaced from the toe of the shoe so as to leave the toe portion thereof substantially unobstructed, said insert having a curved spring connected to the underside thereof to impart a longitudinally curved contour thereto, said insert having a lateral single wing which is substantially confined to the inside arch portion of the shoe, said wing substantially contacting with the inner side of the arch portion of the upper of the shoe, the said spring being offset from the central longitudinal line of the insert in a direction laterally away from the said wing.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HENRY LIFSCI-IUTZ. 

